Analysis of organ developmental response to increased plant density: Parameterisation for ADEL-Maize

Characteriation of maize (Zea mays L.) canopy development over various plant population densities (PPD) is necessary for constructing a model with account for the effect of interplant competition for crop productivity. In this study, a field experiment was conducted at Mengcheng to investigate the effects of increased plant density on maize canopy morphological development with a particular focus on parameterisation of organ developmental response to increased plant density in maize. The field experiment was composed of five plant densities i.e. 4.5, 6, 7.5, 9 and 20 plants m−2 (referred to as PD4.5, PD6, PD7.5, PD9 and PD15 respectively) with three replicates. Measurement of canopy morphology was taken by destructive sampling every 3-5 days. Organ developmental response to increased plant density in maize was characterised with the linear functions. The parameters for the response were obtained, which varied with phytomer position. The findings and parameters will be integrated into ADEL-Maize, allowing predicting increased interplant competition on canopy development and light interception.